'Blue Valentine'

'Blue Valentine' (R) (4 stars) (Highest Rating)

Writers: Derek Cianfrance, Joey Curtis and Cami Delavigne
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Michelle Williams, Ryan Gosling, John Doman, Mike Vogel, Ben Shenkman, Faith Wladyka

Once in a while there comes a small, independent movie that is so real, raw and sobering that it takes my breath away. "Blue Valentine" is a simple movie that tells the story about a couple from their growing love, evolution and then destruction of their marriage. You will never find two more powerful and effective performances in your life then that of Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. I was into this movie every step of the way and it doesn't have any flaws. Williams and Gosling play Cindy and Dean who meet under strange circumstances. She is dating someone but she is drawn to Dean who feels he has experienced love at first sight. The movie is presented out of sequence as we experience their break up and then flashback to how they met. These are blue collar type people with Cindy going to school to be a nurse and Dean who has dropped out of high school and has a job as a mover. We first see Derek and Cindy with a young daughter and we see a marriage that has grown a few years and we can tell it is not looking good. We flashback to a happier time as Dean and Cindy court each other, become close and have a child followed by marriage. I was hesitant to the movie being told out of order but halfway into the movie I found this to make the movie even more effective and powerful.

The movie brings up a lot of questions about marriage and relationships. Does marriage change our personalities and the way we feel about our significant others over time, corrupt our love towards them. Dean and Cindy start their relationship on a tender and touching note as Dean plays his ukulele and sings a song as Cindy tap dances as they stop in front of a store front window. The scene sounds like it would come off as corny and awkward but it is one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen in a movie. The movie can be very tough, sad and dark as Dean starts to grow older and lose his hair and it seems the love and tenderness from that start has turned into bitterness. Life has not worked out for the two according to their goals but did their life plans really have a chance? Dean seems like he is angry in the later stage of his life and he looks hopeless. The little girl he has seems to be the only light in his life. In a revealing scene we flashback to Dean meeting Cindy's parents and Dean tells Cindy's father about his father leaving him when he was young. Is this why Dean is angry and is he headed towards that type of behavior? I compare that great scene with later scenes as we see Dean and Cindy take a vacation to try to rekindle their love and passion. The movie has so many individual scenes that seem lived in and real. The sex scenes are raw and the emotional torment is palpable. I haven't seen a marriage depicted this honestly and in such a raw way ever in my movie going life. There are no phony plot developments, no sugar coating or movie moments. You feel like you are watching a documentary on this couple because Derek Cianfrance's direction is focused. The hand held photography and real location work help a lot also.

"Blue Valentine" is full of power, tenderness, bitterness and emotional pain but the movie would not have worked if the performances weren't so powerful. Ryan Gosling has proven in my mind to be one of our finest actors if not the best of his generation. Gosling has to find a balance between the charming, in love and younger Dean character and the older, bitter and angrier Dean. Gosling is amazing at portraying these two versions of Dean and he nails every emotion flawlessly. Michelle Williams has become to me one of the most powerful surprises I have ever encountered with an actress. I can't believe this is the same actress that was in the fluff television soap opera "Dawson's Creek"! Michelle has been amazing from playing a wife in "Brokeback Mountain" to a homeless woman in "Wendy and Lucy" with the same grace and intensity. This is a very smart actress that studies her craft and is natural in every performance, more than any actress of her generation. She is the best and most ideal actress to play Cindy because she is a brave actress who feels real in every role she plays. I know I have praised a lot of actresses before but Michelle Williams has captured my attention and heart. I have never been this fascinated by an actress since I have been by actresses like Audrey Hepburn or a Meryl Streep. To me though Williams is in a class all by herself and this is the best performance by an actress in 2010. I am fascinated by her beauty, braveness, rawness, grace and her acting choices in all her roles. I love what Michelle has done with this role, always seeming real and tender and never forcing anything. Gosling and Williams have created something special here and in 50 years Williams will be looked at as an actress as legendary and great as Streep, Hepburn (Audrey and Katherine) and Jodie Foster. Michelle Williams should be studied by every young actress who wants to become as real and as powerful.

I don't know if "Blue Valentine" is a joyful movie going experience. This is not a date movie, it is not a feel good crowd pleaser and it is tough to watch. It is so powerful because it forces you to examine real life and the real emotions a marriage can bring. I will say there are also scenes full of humor and there is also some great joy and tender, beautiful scenes like when Dean sings to Cindy. For a person who loves and studies movies I found this to be one of the most rewarding movie experiences of my life. I am having a hard time telling others that they will love this movie. I do know it will get to you and cause great discussion. Do movies like this give you just a one sided, pessimistic view of marriage or is it good to see a depiction like this? Dean and Cindy show great love for each other at times and other times they are cruel to each other. That is what real marriages and relationships are like and that is why this movie is real and so great. I still think this is a must see movie and the performances by Gosling and Williams must be seen for their greatness. There has not been a movie quite like this in some time, the flawless examination of a real marriage and real life. I have not been able to shake this movie from my memory since I saw it a day ago. This is the best portrait of a marriage and a break up since "Shoot the Moon" in 1982 which is the best movie ever about it's subject matter. "Blue Valentine" is the only other movie that is it's equal, I can't wait to watch both again. This is easily one of the best movies of 2010 and if if you like powerful experiences when watching a movie I urge you to go see this.